ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif yesterday said there was no time for ‘hollow slogans’ as the country was economically on the take-off position.
The premier said the government wanted to elevate the country’s global status and sit-ins will not help the process.
“Ours is the agenda of Pakistan’s success, progress and prosperity and not of sit-ins”, he told a public rally in Mansehra. He said he was not in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for a political stunt but to work for country’s development.
“We are determined to elevate Pakistan to the status of world’s best country… We don’t raise hollow slogans and will not let anyone sabotage the agenda of Pakistan’s development.”
The prime minister said that with the completion of Havelian-Thakot motorway, the travel time between Shinkiari to Burhan will be reduced to less than 90 minutes from five hours. He said in future Abbottabad will also be linked with this section.
Referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Nawaz Sharif said those who made tall claims to bring change had done nothing for the welfare of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
He said it was the federal government led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) that initiated major projects in the province.
The PM earmarked Rs1 billion grant for Hazara University in addition to previous Rs660 million. He also announced a number of development projects across the Mansehra district including construction of Mansehra Bypass and roads, renovation of hospitals and schools.
He allocated Rs200 million for purchase of land for four graveyards in Mansehra and another Rs200 million for provision of electricity to Kala Dhaka.
The premier directed the Higher Education Commission to double the number of laptops for the youth of the area. He pledged to provide gas to Balakot which will be later extended to Naran and Kaghan. He also announced the petroleum prices will not be increased for the coming month.
“We’ll have to face a deficit of Rs18 billion but still won’t raise prices”, Sharif said, adding electricity prices were slashed by Rs2.5 per unit and loadshedding will end by 2018.
Earlier, the prime minister performed the ground-breaking of Havelian-Thakot motorway in Mansehra under China Pakistan Economic Corridor. The 120-kilometer section will be completed in 42 months at a cost of Rs134 billion. China Exim Bank will provide 90 percent of the funds, while the rest will be arranged by Pakistan.
Prime Minister Sharif said he was on journey for Pakistan’s ‘progress and development’. He promised a ‘changed’ fate to the people of Mansehra.
He claimed all the mega projects in KP including the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway were initiated by the PML-N governments since 1990 till date. “Where is the new Pakistan? Who is making the new Pakistan?” he mockingly asked the PTI.
“The people should themselves know who is serving them and who is raising hollow slogans. When the PML-N government will complete its remaining two years in power in 2018, people would see a prosperous Pakistan in the form of end to electricity scarcity and elimination of loadshedding,” he maintained.
Sharif said due to the government’s policies, inflation had been curtailed and with several industrial units being installed across the country, Pakistan had been put on the rails of progress and its economy had come to the take-off position.
He said the water reservoirs and power projects including Bhasha Dam, Dasu Dam, Tarbela Dam would generate hundreds of mega watts of electricity.
Nawaz Sharif, who also inaugurated the gas supply pipeline of 12 inch diameter, said the pipeline would benefit the people of Oghai, Pakhal, Tanawal and Balakot and would be extended up to Kaghan and Naran to discourage deforestation.
He said the announced projects will be completed during the next two years and then “we will go to masses for the next elections.”
Sharif warned the ‘leg pullers’ against creating hurdles in the way of Pakistan’s development or the masses will “throw them out.”
He asked his political opponents to think before taking any step, as the masses were not ready to tolerate hurdles in the way of development.
“We will not let you create any hurdles in the way of Pakistan’s development, and will not let you sabotage the agenda of people’s development,” he said. The PM said terrorism was on the decline as a result of prudent policies of the government.
Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Mohammed Yousaf and Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Iqbal Zafar Jhagra also addressed the rally.
Reacting to the PM’s announcement, KP provincial minister Mushtaq Ghani said that Mansehra’s visit was designed to divert attention from Panama leaks.
“This project has been announced for the third time by Nawaz Sharif himself, but there is zero work on the ground,” he told a television channel, adding the people of Mansehra “cannot be fooled by the prime minister’s false announcements.”